Monday 26 April 2010

"I Heard the Devil's Confession" by Father Manuel Julian Quiceno Zapata

A Columbian priest,Father Manuel Julian Quiceno Zapata, of the Diocese of Cartago, Colombia, won the "Priestly Anecdotes" competition sponsored by Catholic.net, which received 820 entries from presbyters in 78 countries.  The prize was a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

This is how Fr. Zapata's prizewinning entry begins:

Of what I experienced before hearing his confession, I remember the following.
As parish priest of a small village, I would often go out through the streets on Sunday, to greet people and give them a written catechesis, especially those who for different reasons did not go to church.
In the parish dedicated to St. Joseph, many had a habit that they fulfilled every Sunday without fail, as if it was a duty. This was to drink "some cold ones" -- as they called beer. Hence, it was easy to know where to find this type of "faithful," and he was also among them.
One day, when I finished my run, a lady approached me to ask me if I had recognized the "devil." According to her, I had greeted him and he had received one of the messages that I gave out.
I had not seen the "devil," or at least I don't remember having seen any woman or man who looked like him.
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Thanks to Zenit

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